SPOTLIGHT – ODOH DIEGO OKENYODO

- CLASS OF ‘91

-FOUNDER/CEO, AKWEYA TV LIMITED

-PHARMACIST, JOURNALIST, COMMUNICATION EXPERT

-LIVES IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Odoh Diego Okenyodo, the founder of Akweya TV, is passionate about driving positive change through communication. He is a seasoned development communication expert with a proven track record of leadership achievements. As the founder and the CEO of Akweya TV Limited, he has successfully established himself as a visionary in the field, dedicated to transforming the landscape of participatory communication in Africa.

Odoh was born at the St Theresa's Hospital Otukpo on the 2nd of December 1974 to Chief Akpallah Okenyodo and Mrs Isu Okenyodo, both deceased. He is the fourth child of his mother. Odoh grew on Iyorkaa Ako and Katsina Ala Streets in Makurdi and started his primary education at St. Catherine's but did most of the primary education at the NKST Primary School, Iyorkaa Ako Street. From there, he proceeded to Mt St Gabriel's Secondary School in 1985. In school, Odoh was in St Kalemba House and was known for his active engagement in fine arts, debates, and literary works. He won the Benue State Fine Art Competition in 1988 and an essay competition by the defunct Directorate of Foods, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI). The latter gave him a prize money of five hundred naira (N500), a huge sum at the time, which paid his school fees as a day student for a year (N105) at N35 per term, and left the family with a surplus. His earnings from creativity was to become a hallmark of his life.

While studying Pharmacy at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, he became known for designing handmade banners, posters, cards, and other artefacts that supplemented his school fees. In the university, he served as editor of three publications; The Parrot magazine, the PharmSatellite, and bulletin of the Creative Writers Club in the Department of English. Also, as a student, he was invited to teach classes by lecturers in the Faculty of Arts, including then Dr Ahmed Babajo (now a professor), Steve Daniel and the late Mallam Salihu Bappa. He was also part of Theatre for Development workshops by Professors Oga Steve Abah, and the late Professor Jenks Okwori. These and many other experiences drew him to the practice of using communication as a tool for development.

Odoh's practice brought him in confrontation with the school authorities, then headed by a military General placed as caretaker by General Sani Abacha. He was detained, then expelled in March 1998. In 1999, while in court, seeking redress for the injustice, Okenyodo started journalism practice with the then-newly established Weekly Trust, which was later to become Daily Trust. He also wrote for many other newspapers.

In his role as CEO of Akweya TV Limited, he has realised his strategic vision of creating a development-focused broadcast station that empowers voices from across Africa. Akweya TV promotes language development and general cultural renaissance as a pathway for the future. Broadcasting on the terrestrial platform of the Nigerian Television Authority in Makurdi as well as on YouTube, the station has championed the broadcast of news and content in the Akweya language alongside English, thereby becoming a veritable instrument for modelling indigenous Nigerian languages as tools for development. Akweya TV Limited has led to social, political, educational and economic reawakening of the Akweya people, evidenced by remarkable changes in these spheres since the year 2020 when the company was incorporated.

By providing a platform for participatory communication, Mr Okenyodo, through Akweya TV, has fostered dialogue, highlighted pressing challenges, and showcased inspiring stories of change. Through Akweya TV programmes, Okenyodo is empowering communities to become active agents in their own development, promoting inclusivity, and fostering a sense of ownership. Akweya TV has partnered with or sponsored many developmental activities of related organisations such as the Benue Heritage Festival, Akweya Children’s Carnival, the Akweya Teachers’ Assembly, Akweya Language Bible Translation, Kyegh Sha Shwa, Mba’Apostoli, Arise Igala TV and Magazine, Engausa (English and Hausa) Poetry readings  and training, Nigeria Poetry Festival (NIPOFEST), the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) webinar with Prof Ngugu wa Thiong'o, webinar with Prof Wole Soyinka, first edition of Felabration, and many more.

Okenyodo envisions an improved quality of life based on the people's history and culture. He hopes to see the development of comic books, 3D animations, and technological innovations that are inspired by our history, art, and culture. Africa will sell these to the world and make Africa a destination of ideas, prosperity and progress. 

As stated earlier, Okenyodo trained as a Pharmacist from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and has worked as a journalist with national media organisations such as the Daily Trust, and contributed his talents to international organisations such as the BBC Media Action, UNICEF and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). With advanced education in Development Communication, Okenyodo’s passion for leveraging media as a force for good has led him to becoming a global leader in participatory communication, driving positive change on a larger scale.

He is a facilitator at the West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy (WABMA), helping to build the capacity of future leaders in our industry. He is a faculty of The Eugenia Abu Media's Public Speaking Executive Masterclass, which helps CEOs and senior managers improve their leadership and management skills. A trusted partner for numerous NGOs, government agencies, and private sector entities, delivering impactful campaigns that address critical social issues, the founder of Akweya TV is also the Lead Faculty of the newly established Africa Disease Reporting Fellowship for journalists from across the continent, initiated by Africa Diseases Prevention and Research Development Initiative (ADRAP), a non-governmental organisation also founded by Gabrielite.

Odoh is an active member of the Class of  ’91 and led the team that authored the biography of the late Rev. Fr. Angus Fraser, ‘A Lifetime of Sacrifice’, which was published by Okenyodo's company, Isu Media Ltd.

He is married with children and lives in Abuja, Nigeria